Brighton College
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Brighton College is a fee-charging,
co-educational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...
, boarding and
day A day is the time rotation period, period of a full Earth's rotation, rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. On average, this is 24 hours (86,400 seconds). As a day passes at a given location it experiences morning, afternoon, evening, ...
public school for boys and girls aged 3 to 18 in
Brighton and Hove Brighton and Hove ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority area, ceremonially in East Sussex, England. There are multiple villages alongside the seaside resorts of Brighton and Hove in the district. It is administe ...
,
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. The school has three sites: Brighton College (the senior school, ages 11 to 18), Brighton College Preparatory School (children aged 8 to 13, located next to the senior school) and the Pre-Prep School (children aged 3 to 8). Brighton College was named England's Independent School of the Year in 2019 by ''
The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...
''. In 2018 it was ranked fifth in the country for average
A-level The A-level (Advanced Level) is a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education, as well as a school leaving qualification offered by the educational bodies in the United Kingdom and the educational ...
results, with 99% of grades being A*–B. In 2023, the school saw 80% of its A-level candidates score A*/A. Brighton College has been listed in The Schools Index since 2021 as one of the world's leading 150 private schools and one of the top 30 in the UK senior schools category. In 2011, Brighton College opened its first international campus in
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...
. Brighton College International (BCI) has subsequently opened campuses in Al Ain, Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore and Hanoi. Brighton College Abu Dhabi is also listed in The Schools Index as one of the top 15 schools in the Middle East. In September 2023 the college opened a prep school in
Kensington Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensingt ...
, central London.


History

Founded in 1845 by William Aldwin Soames, Brighton College was the first Victorian public school founded in
Sussex Sussex (Help:IPA/English, /ˈsʌsɪks/; from the Old English ''Sūþseaxe''; lit. 'South Saxons'; 'Sussex') is an area within South East England that was historically a kingdom of Sussex, kingdom and, later, a Historic counties of England, ...
. Soames originally planned for use of the Brighton Pavilion, but after refusal by
Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
built the school in the suburb of Kemptown, Brighton. Brighton College led the legal fight to secure the charitable tax status currently enjoyed by all registered charities. A long-running legal action between the school and the Inland Revenue from 1916 to 1926 produced a series of changes to tax law in the 1918 Income Tax Act, the 1921 and 1922 Finance Acts and, above all, section 24 of the 1927 Finance Act. The case (''Brighton College v Marriott'') went to the High Court in 1924, the Court of Appeal later that year, and ultimately the House of Lords in 1925. It was the first independent school to introduce compulsory Mandarin Chinese from the age of 13, and in 2006 was the first public school in England to sign a deal with the Chinese government to encourage the teaching of Mandarin and Chinese culture. Large numbers of Brighton College boys fought in both World Wars, with 149 Old Brightonians fallen in
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
and 173 during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. During research for her 2006 novel '' Wicked!,'' author
Jilly Cooper Dame Jilly Cooper, (born Jill Sallitt; 21 February 1937) is an English author. She began her career as a journalist and wrote numerous works of non-fiction before writing several romance novels, the first of which appeared in 1975. Cooper is ...
spoke to former pupils.


Houses

The pastoral system at Brighton College is
house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air c ...
based. There are 15 houses which are split by gender. (with the exception of Alexander House and the Lower School). Staff of both sexes can be attached to any house. Houses contain between 48 and 85 pupils and are supervised by a house master or house mistress (HMM) and a team of personal tutors. Boarding houses also have a matron and house keeping staff. The HMM appoints Upper Sixth Formers (Year 13) as house prefects to look after and mentor younger members, and one as head pupil to represent their house at house events and competitions. In September 2017, Brighton College's 14th house was opened, Alexander House. This was the first mixed-gender house in the college and is only for the Sixth formers, who decide during their Upper Fifth year (Year 11) if they wish to move into this house, with all members coming from other boarding houses. In their final two years, roughly half of boarders choose to enter the house. For years 7–8 there is a single house, Lower School, for those in Year 7 and 8 who took the 11+ test. This house does not have boarding and is for both boys and girls.


Awards

* England's Independent School of the Year 2012 – The Sunday Times * England's Independent School of the Year 2019 – The Sunday Times * Independent Secondary School of the Decade – The Times * England's Public School Headmaster of the Year 2012 by ''
Tatler ''Tatler'' (stylised in all caps) is a British magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. It focuses on fashion and lifestyle, as well as coverage of high society and politics. It is targeted towards the British upper and upper-middle c ...
'' magazine * England's Public School Headmaster of the Year 2023 by ''
Tatler ''Tatler'' (stylised in all caps) is a British magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. It focuses on fashion and lifestyle, as well as coverage of high society and politics. It is targeted towards the British upper and upper-middle c ...
'' magazine


Site and buildings

Brighton College is located in Brighton's Kemptown area, in the east of the city. The school occupies three sites, facing south onto Eastern Road. It is immediately to the east of the site of the former Kemptown railway station, across Sutherland Road. Its principal buildings are in the gothic revival style by
Sir George Gilbert Scott Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...
RA (flint with Caen stone dressings, 1848–66). Later buildings were designed by his pupil and former student at the college Sir Thomas Graham Jackson RA (brick and flint with cream and pink terracotta dressings, 1883–87; flint with Clipsham stone dressings 1922–23). George Bell,
Bishop of Chichester The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the counties of East Sussex, East and West Sussex. The Episcopal see, see is based in t ...
created the school grounds as an extra-parochial ecclesiastical district. Placed outside the parish of St. Matthew's, Brighton, the school chapel holds an episcopal licence to perform weddings. Under the stewardship of Head Master Richard Cairns, the school has added a series of buildings to the college campus: * 2008: the Alexander Arts Centre * 2011: The Skidelsky Building (winner of a RIBA award) * 2011: the new Pre-Prep school * 2012: the Diamond Jubilee Pavilion (winner of a RIBA award), a new cricket pavilion at the school's fields near East Brighton Park. It was opened by the Earl and Countess of Wessex in July 2012. * 2012: the Simon Smith Building (winner of a RIBA award) * 2013: New House (winner of a RIBA award) * 2014: Cairns Tower (winner of a RIBA award) * 2015: The Music School and Sarah Abraham Recital Hall (winner of a RIBA award) * 2017: Alexander House * 2017: The Kai Yong Yeoh Building (RIBA nominee; Sussex Heritage Trust Award nominee) * 2020: The School of Sports and Science – this £55 million building, which includes 18 university-standard laboratories, a rooftop running track, swimming pool and double-height sports hall, was designed by the Rotterdam-based
Office for Metropolitan Architecture The Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) is an international architectural firm with offices in Rotterdam, New York, Hong Kong, Doha, and Australia. The firm is currently led by eight partners - Rem Koolhaas, Reinier de Graaf, Ellen va ...
(OMA). * 2024: The Richard Cairns Building – this building consists of a performing arts centre, the 400 seat 'Cairns Theatre', social spaces and subterranean studios. It completes a 15-year expansion programme and was designed by Dutch architecture firm krft.


Sister schools

As of today, Brighton College has 7 sister schools world-wide, one each in London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Hanoi, Bangkok, Singapore, and Al Ain.


Policies

In January 2016, Head Master Richard Cairns announced that Brighton College would abandon gender-specific uniforms and instead introduce a "trouser uniform" and a "skirt uniform," with both boys and girls under age 16 being free to choose which to wear. According to Cairns, Brighton College is "reacting to a changing society which recognizes that some children have gender dysphoria and do not wish to lose their emotional gender identities at school". Parental consent must be provided in order for a pupil to choose their uniform, and a pupil must wear either the "trouser uniform" or the "skirt uniform" in totality rather than a combination of the two. In addition, such a choice must be made on a permanent basis. In 2017 the school invited Stonewall Ambassador
Ian McKellen Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cu ...
to share its anti-bullying message. The school has regularly made headlines for its pro-LGBT stance, emphasizing the right of all pupils to feel safe and supported. For the 2013–14 academic year the school appointed the first openly gay head boy of an English independent school. In August 2017 the school participated in the Brighton Pride Parade, becoming the first public school in the United Kingdom to do so. The float was backed by Ian McKellen. This has become an annual event for the school, with pupils and staff designing and making the float. The school positions community service as a "vital part of school life". Pupils are involved in 328 days of community service a year – which includes visiting elderly people, teaching pensioners about technology, and working with local community initiatives. The school is recognized as having an ethos of kindness and respect, in addition to academic excellence. The school's most recent Independent Schools Inspectorate report summarizes:


Fees

For the 2023/24 academic year the fees were £30,080 for day pupils. Boarding ranged from £54,520 – £60,000. The school offers a number of scholarships and bursaries, offered on the basis of merit and need.


Activities

In the 2024 A-level examinations Brighton College achieved 99.3% A*B, with 87% A*-A and almost half A*, the best results at any independent school in the UK that year. In the 2024 GCSE examinations they scored 95% 9-7, with over half awarded Grade 9. Class sizes at GCSE average 18, and at A-level they average 8. 26 subjects are offered at A-level. The school has an extensive co-curriculum provision, with the option of "over 100 clubs and activities" in which pupils may participate. This includes drama (with 15 productions a year), dance (7 styles of dance and 70 classes per week), music (22 music groups) and art (100% A* results). The school has an ethos of "sports for all" and offers a range sport choices. The major sports are athletics, cricket, netball and rugby. All pupils participate in games of their choice twice a week. The college was selected to provide training ground for
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
during the course of Rugby World Cup 2015. Going forward,
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
Head Coach Eddie Jones,
Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
coach then, has hosted the elite player squad training camps at the college.


Principals and head masters

*Rev. Arthur Macleane (1846) *Rev. Henry Cotterill (1851), subsequently Bishop of
Grahamstown Makhanda, formerly known as Grahamstown, is a town of about 75,000 people in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated about northeast of Gqeberha and southwest of East London. It is the largest town in the Makana Local Mun ...
and
Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
*Rev. Dr. John Griffith (1856) * Rev. Dr. Charles Bigg (1871), subsequently Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Oxford * Rev. Thomas Hayes Belcher (1881) *Rev. Robert Halley Chambers (1892), formerly Principal of Victoria College, Jersey, subsequently Head Master of
Christ College, Brecon Christ College, Brecon, is a co-educational, boarding and day independent school, located in the cathedral and market town of Brecon in mid-Wales. It currently caters for pupils aged 4–18 years. History Christ College was founded by Roya ...
*Rev. Arthur Titherington (1895) *Rev. Canon William Dawson (1906), formerly Headmaster of Corby Grammar School (now part of Tresham College of Further and Higher Education) and
The King's School, Grantham The King's School is an 11–18 boys grammar school with Academy (English school), academy status, in the market town of Grantham, Lincolnshire, England. The school's history can be traced to 1329, and was re-endowed by Richard Foxe in 1528. Lo ...
*Rev. Arthur Belcher (1933), a pupil 1886–95, son of Rev. Thomas Hayes Belcher *Christopher Fairfax Scott (1937), formerly Headmaster of Monmouth School 1928–37 *Walter Hett (1939) *Arthur Stuart-Clark (1944), formerly Headmaster of
Steyning Grammar School Steyning Grammar School is a coeducational comprehensive day and boarding, senior school and sixth form, located in Steyning, West Sussex, England. The school has two lower school sites catering for Years 7 and 8. The original site was located ...
*Roland Lester (1950) (acting) *William Stewart MC (1950), subsequently Master of
Haileybury and Imperial Service College Haileybury is a co-educational public school (fee-charging boarding and day school for 11- to 18-year-olds) located in Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire. It is a member of the Rugby Group and enrols pupils at the 11+, 13+ and 16+ stages of edu ...
*Henry Christie (1963), subsequently Warden of St Edward's School, Oxford *William Blackshaw (1971) *John Leach (1987) * Dr. Anthony Seldon (1997), subsequently Master of Wellington College *Simon Smith (2005) (acting) *Richard Cairns (2006) *Steve Marshall-Taylor (2024) The title of principal was changed to Head Master in December 1885. The requirement for the Head Master to be an ordained priest of the
Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...
was removed in 1909. Given the international growth of the school, Richard Cairns became Principal of the Brighton College family of schools in August 2024, and Steve Marshall-Taylor became the Head Master of Brighton College itself. Note: Simon Smith returned to his position as Second Master after Richard Cairns took leadership in 2006.


Notable alumni and members of staff


Affiliated schools worldwide

In 2010, Brighton College announced that it was "helping to set up schools in
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...
". This venture was a
for-profit Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit." A business entity is not necessari ...
franchise operation through a company the school had set up, Brighton College International Schools Ltd, in a joint venture with a
UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE), or simply the Emirates, is a country in West Asia, in the Middle East, at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a federal elective monarchy made up of seven emirates, with Abu Dhabi serving as i ...
property development company called Bloom Properties. Brendan Law, previously of Westbourne House School in Chichester, West Sussex, was named Headmaster of Brighton College Abu Dhabi in September 2010, and the school opened in September 2011. Law was replaced by Ken Grocott, former Head of Geography at Brighton College, in September 2012. Brighton College went on to open affiliate schools in
Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
in 2016, in
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
with Cognita in 2020, and in
Hanoi Hanoi ( ; ; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Vietnam, second-most populous city of Vietnam. The name "Hanoi" translates to "inside the river" (Hanoi is bordered by the Red River (Asia), Red and Black River (Asia), Black Riv ...
in 2023 in partnership with Vietnamese conglomerate
Vingroup Vingroup JSC () is a Vietnamese conglomerate headquartered in Long Bien district, Hanoi. Vingroup is one of the largest conglomerates of Vietnam, focusing on technology, industry, real estate development, retail and services from healthcare to ...
. In 2023, the Prince's Gardens Preparatory School in London, UK was reopened as Brighton College Prep Kensington. It is owned by Cognita and is operated in partnership with Brighton College. This is the first time a leading independent school outside London has established a new prep school in the UK capital. The current Head of the school, Lois Gaffney, was appointed in 2022 from Brighton College Singapore where she was Deputy Head since 2020. The school teaches pupils aged 2 to 13 years old.


See also

* Brighton College Preparatory School


References


Bibliography

*G. P. Burstow, "Documents relating to the Early History of Brighton College", The Sussex County Magazine, October 1951 and August 1952. *G. P. Burstow & M. B. Whittaker (ed. Sir Sydney Roberts), "A History of Brighton College." (Brighton, 1957). *Martin D. W. Jones, "A Short History of Brighton College." (Brighton College, 1986). *Martin D. W. Jones, "Brighton College 1845–1995." (Phillimore, Chichester, 1995) . *Martin D. W. Jones, "Brighton College v Marriott: Schools, charity law and taxation.", History of Education, 12 no.2 (1983). *Martin D. W. Jones, "Gothic Enriched: Thomas Jackson's Mural Tablets at Brighton College Chapel.", Church Monuments, VI (1991). * * H. J. Mathews (ed.), "Brighton College Register, Part 1, 1847–1863." (Farncombe, Brighton, 1886). *E. K. Milliken (ed.), "Brighton College Register 1847–1922." (Brighton, 1922). *Anon., "Brighton College War Record 1914–1919." (Farncombe, Brighton, 1920). Compiled by Walter Hett.


External links


Official websiteAlumni websiteCollege makes Mandarin compulsory
* ISI Inspectio
Reports
(Senior School) {{Schools in East Sussex Private schools in Brighton and Hove Educational institutions established in 1845 Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference Boarding schools in East Sussex George Gilbert Scott buildings